Pain in the back of the shoulder blades - causes, symptoms and treatment

Pain at the level of the shoulder blades in the chest area may indicate spinal problems, pain in the internal organs, and reflection of heart discomfort. To find out the cause you need to clearly explain the complaints to the doctor and undergo an examination. Based on the diagnosis, therapy is prescribed. You should also consider in detail the ways to treat back pain under the shoulder blades.

Chest anatomy

The scapular zone belongs to the thoracic spine and is located at chest level. It is necessary to study the anatomy of this area in order to understand which organs may bother the patient directly and indirectly.

Basic anatomical elements include:

1. Spinal column - consists of the spine and spine, intervertebral discs. It is an important part of the entire muscular system, protecting the spinal cord from damage.
2. The right and left scapula belong to the bony structures of the upper shoulder girdle. They look like a triangle and have flat bones. This bone structure has many pits and depressions. These are the places where ligaments, tendons, and muscles attach. The blades have high rigidity so they can easily withstand constant static loads.
3. The clavicle is the bone that connects the shoulder blade to the chest.
4. Heart - is responsible for the functioning of the cardiovascular system, pumping blood into the veins and arteries.
5. The lungs are the paired respiratory organ responsible for gas exchange processes.
6. Esophagus, stomach - belongs to the digestive organs.
7. Ribs - Provides protective function of the chest. These are flat bones that attach to the spine behind and in front of the breast.

The nature of pain

The shoulder blades are located behind the spine and are close to the shoulder bone and collar. It is a triangular-shaped paired bone to which rhomboid and partially trapezius muscles are attached. These muscle groups make the upper shoulder girdle mobile. The shoulder blades are connected to the ribs and form a strong frame of the torso. Any discomfort on this side can cause significant discomfort and restrict mobility in the upper back. For this reason the pain can not be tolerated and you should immediately consult a doctor.

The variety of pain sensations is divided into several classifications:

1. Pain and its nature according to the localization of unpleasant sensations - in the middle of the shoulder blades, left or right, radiating to the chest or between the ribs, the pain is felt up or down.
2. By the nature of sensations - unpleasant, sensations of attraction, sharp pain, sighing, radiation, pulsation.
3. The duration of pain is episodic attacks, it is constantly felt, sharply increases, unpleasant sensations appear after physical exertion.

Most often, attraction pains indicate spinal problems and rarely indicate other related problems.

The main reasons

Symptoms of pain under the shoulder blades occur due to such disorders:

• Pain in the stomach (stomach ulcer, gastritis);
• Digestive disorders (heartburn, esophageal reflux);
• Disorders of the cardiovascular system (myocardial infarction, pericarditis);
• Lung problems (bronchitis, pneumonia);
• Degenerative disorders of the ridge, spine;
• Trauma, inflammation, strain, myositis;
• Neurological disorders.

In 90% of cases, as statistics indicate, shoulder discomfort is caused by back pain. The human spine is responsible for walking upright, so it carries a significant load. Taking a cautious approach to your own health helps to improve well-being when physical inactivity and poor posture cause discomfort. The condition worsens with age.

Injuries

If the patient has bruising or sprains, pain under the shoulder blade may occur during movement or tension. During the acute period the pain is constant and is felt even at rest. Depending on the location of the injury, the pain appears on the left or right side of the shoulder blades. The most common type of injury is a bone or muscle corset.

Other types of traumatic injuries:

1. Trauma. Characterized by superficial pain. Most often, superficial soft tissues, upper muscle layers, and subcutaneous fat experience bruising. Unpleasant sensations appear under the shoulder blades and below, there is swelling and localized inflammatory process. Usually no specific treatment is required. This pain disappears on its own in a few weeks.
2. Fracture or crack - The pain is severe and has no reflection and is concentrated at the site of injury. Even the slightest movement of the hand causes painful sensations. In such a situation the patient is shown complete rest so as not to worsen the condition with a fracture.
3. Dislocations, movement of the spine. In this case, the pain is localized not only in the shoulder area, but also in the back of the chest. Often the pain occurs due to compression of the nerve endings in the spinal canal, indicating damage to the intervertebral discs.

Trauma is easy to identify. Convulsions are felt during movement, swelling of the tissue is observed at the site of hemorrhage.

Osteochondrosis

The classic manifestation of osteochondrosis in the chest area is intercostal pain at the ridge level. Unpleasant sensations occur due to stretching of the nerve endings. With an injury to the upper part of the patient in the chest region, he feels a sharp pain radiating to the arm. The side depends on the damage to the specific nerve roots. Compression of blood vessels is accompanied by an increase in pressure, headache and dizziness.

If the lower part of the chest is damaged, then the patient has unpleasant sensations from the scapula in the lower part of the spine. It also rises to the left or right hand, depending on the location of the pressed nerve. As the pain becomes more intense over time, the patient begins to feel discomfort not only during motor activity but also during rest. Difficult situation - discomfort is felt around the clock, even at night. Often a rash or hernia occurs on the background of osteochondrosis.

Scoliosis

Posture disorder is the most common disease of the spine that occurs at an early age. The first problems are already observed from the first grades of school - children do not control the correct posture and do not understand why adults ask them to sit evenly. Abnormal movement habits develop over time. The person sits in a comfortable position for him, but this posture causes a static overload of the muscles and the development of imbalance. If the spine stays in the antalgic position for a long time, then there is a curvature, which is full of consequences.

In adulthood, many people experience hypodynamics - a state of low physical activity when a person leads an exclusively sedentary lifestyle. The result is constant back pain due to muscle weakness. If there is curvature in the chest, then the pain is localized around the shoulder blades. Occasionally there is discomfort from radiation to the cervix. A characteristic difference of scoliosis is that one shoulder is higher than the other, in a relaxed position.

At the initial examination the therapist can see the disease. It is necessary to treat the disease with the help of a long and integrated approach. To alleviate the painful condition you need to establish a lifestyle, stop being nervous and start moving. Under stress, muscle tone can increase, leading to a deterioration in well-being. Massage helps a lot, it is also useful to conduct spinal exercise therapy.

Hernias and rashes

The appearance of an intervertebral hernia is a serious condition characterized by protrusion of the spinal canal through the fibrous ring of the disc. The anterior condition of the hernia is protrusion. During protrusion the disc is partially damaged, the fibrous ring is stretched. A hernia occurs during strenuous physical exertion due to gravity lifting. The hereditary factor plays an important role in their appearance. If a family has close relatives with a hernia or rash, then they are more likely to occur in children with age.

If a hernia or protrusion is located in the chest area, then pain arises around the shoulder blades. Irradiation of pain in the arm or shoulder is also noted. The page depends on the specific nerve roots. Painful shooting is explained by damage to the nerve endings, which bend due to excessive compression in the back.

When the lower part of the spine is injured, the back pain falls on the leg, and when a cervical hernia appears, the pain radiates to the head. In any situation, a hernia requires a complex treatment aimed at relaxing the spine, relieving severe pain, and relieving muscle strain. In case of hernia and rash, it is useful to conduct exercise therapy, attend physiotherapy procedures. In rare and advanced cases surgery is required.

Kyphosis

It is a scoliosis-like curvature, but in the opposite direction. If during scoliosis the spine is bent to the right or left, then in kyphosis there is a pronounced inclination of the upper shoulder girdle. One of the characteristic signs of the disease is the feeling of pain in the presence of external signs of pathology in the interstitial zone. It hurts under the left or right shoulder, it depends on the nature of the curvature. Usually the pain occurs on both sides and extends to the arms, neck. There are two main mechanisms of pathology formation:

1. Neurogenic. During the formation of curvature, degenerative processes take place in the spine, which leads to stretching of the nerve roots of the spinal cord. There is marked pain in the area of the right and left forearm, which is attributed to the neck, neck or arm, less often to the shoulder joint.
2. ᲙMental. Being in a constant concave position causes muscle imbalance and overload. The muscles in the upper part of the spine are stretched, causing them to become hypertensive and in severe pain. The rest of the muscles of the spine also suffer. Hypotension can occur in the lumbar region.

As a result, the vertebral artery is compressed, causing permanent disruption of cerebral circulation. Gradually there is a deterioration in well-being, there are disorders in the work of internal organs. It is necessary to carry out complex work with such a patient, including rehabilitation services, exercise therapy.

Spondylarthrosis

Sometimes the development of spondyloarthritis indicates pain in the area of the right or left shoulder blades. The disease is characterized by damage to the phase joints and intervertebral discs. With the development of the disease, mobility is lost, there is a feeling of tightness, which is most manifested in the morning.

Pathology is manifested in several stages:

1. Cartilage deformation and destruction. If blood circulation in this area is disrupted, then the integrity of the connective tissue is violated, causing the articular disc to thin. Bone and connective tissue repair processes deteriorate significantly. Increased physical activity in this area causes microtrauma.
2. Further deformed changes occur. Rings appear on the disc, mobility deteriorates, leading to destruction of cartilage tissue. The patient may feel constant pain, even in a relaxed state.
3. The terminal stage is ossification, the formation of osteophytes. These formations damage surrounding joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments. In this case surgery will be required.

A characteristic manifestation of spondyloarthritis in the initial stage is the appearance of pain only during physical activity. The discomfort during rest disappears as there is no traumatic factor.

Intercostal neuralgia

This condition is related to vaginal nerve disorders. When pathology occurs, sharp pain occurs, shooting in the shoulder mouth, ribs and chest. This type of pain is often confused with a heart attack. A characteristic difference is the lack of clear localization in the heart area. Unpleasant feelings intensify when inspired. The pain is accompanied by a feeling of compression. If the patient thinks he has angina, then there is no relief after taking nitroglycerin.

Pain under the mouth of the right or left shoulder indicates innervation in specific areas. Numbness and spasm are not characteristic of this pathological process. Depending on the specifics of the symptoms of the disease, the specialist will make a diagnosis without any problems. Treatment includes the use of injectable B vitamins and myotropics (muscle relaxants). Therapy for intercostal neuralgia should be performed by a neurologist.

Causes of pain in the left shoulder under the mouth from the back - heart disorders

Often, back pain indicates heart disorders. Why is back pain a directed pain phenomenon that indicates coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, or pericarditis. If there is a sharp sharp pain that increases with physical activity, but there are no symptoms of spinal disease, you need to immediately consult a cardiologist. Self-medication or procrastination can lead to a critical situation.

The most common causes of heart discomfort caused by pain in the left shoulder from the back to the back:

1. ᲛIocardial infarction. In addition to the radiation, the patient feels excruciating pain in the area of the heart muscle. Causes of pathology are associated with blockage of large arteries and veins by a thrombus. If the thrombotic plaque ruptures and blocks the flow of blood vessels around the heart, a heart attack will occur. You need to act quickly in this situation, otherwise the patient will die. The root cause of the resulting pathology is atherosclerosis, agglutination of erythrocytes, increased platelets during coagulation.
2. Ischemic heart disease or angina pectoris. According to a medical article, a coronary artery attack develops suddenly. There is dull pain that is paroxysmal in nature. The attack is easily stopped by taking nitroglycerin. The disease requires additional medical supervision as it can occur at the most unexpected moment. If the attack lasts longer than a few hours and the medication does not help, you need to call an ambulance. In addition to heart discomfort, the patient also breathes, shortness of breath occurs, which is aggravated by physical activity.
3. Pain in the back of the left shoulder from the back may indicate the development of a pericarditis attack. The pathology is characterized by fluid accumulation with inflammatory damage to the serous membrane of the heart. Diagnosis includes testing for inflammatory markers, including rheumatic tests. Pericarditis is often a complication of a previous infectious disease, including respiratory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Long, complex therapy is performed.

Diseases of the respiratory system

In the presence of prolonged respiratory disease, the patient may experience radiating pain around the shoulder blades. Most often, complications are caused by such diseases:

1. Chronic or acute bronchitis. At an early stage the disease is characterized by dry cough. Gradually the laryngeal irritation increases and a wet cough appears. If the disease developed against the background of SARS, then there is an increase in body temperature. The disease does not require specific therapy, it is enough to follow a bed rest, drink more warm fluids. Rarely, fever-reducing medications and antibiotics may be needed.
2. Pleurisy. If the patient complains of severe chest pain with possible radiation, cough, shortness of breath and fever, then a specialist should rule out or confirm this disease. Pleurisy is characterized by inflammation of the pleural sheets, followed by the accumulation of liquid sputum in the pleural cavity. The disease is difficult to bear. Comprehensive treatment with antibiotics and anti-TB drugs is needed.
3. ევNemonia. It often develops as a complication of SARS. Pneumonia is characterized by a severe course accompanied by coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain on inspiration, and a high fever. The disease is confirmed by a chest x-ray and can be treated with antibiotics.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

All disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that cause discomfort around the shoulder blades are reflected in the nature of the pain. What problems may arise:

1. Gastritis or gastric ulcer. If there is a reflection of pain syndrome, then the patient feels an unpleasant discomfort in the lower part of the chest (lower part of the shoulder blades on both sides). You may experience muscle pain. A burning sensation in the solar plexus is felt in parallel with an attack of pain in the stomach. Diseases are treated in a complex way, drugs are used to reduce acidity, treatments (proton pump inhibitors). If a bacterial pathogen is detected, antibiotics are prescribed.
2. Esophageal reflux, heartburn. Discomfort occurs in the chest area, often radiating to the groin area. The cause of the pathology is the return of stomach contents into the esophagus. Unpleasant sensations are associated with the irritating effect of hydrochloric acid on the esophagus. There is an acidic eruption, a feeling of a lump in the throat. In rare cases, vomiting occurs. To prevent an attack, you should limit your consumption of fried, spicy and fatty foods. Acid-reducing antacids based on magnesium and aluminum hydroxide are used in symptomatic treatment.

Editorial opinion

Unpleasant sensations in the cleft palate are most often associated with exacerbation of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Less often discomfort is caused by heart disorders, neurological problems, diseases of the stomach and respiratory system. To understand more about the causes of back pain, it is recommended to read the relevant article on our website.